Base for seating



Feb. 11, 1964 D. ALBINSON 3,120,977

BASE FOR SEATING Filed Jan. 29, 1962 2 ZMM United States Patent 3,120,977 BASE FOR SEATING Don Albinson, Venice, Calif., assignor to Herman Miller, Inc., Zeeland, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Jan. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 169,324 4 Claims. (Cl. 297-160) This invention relates to a base for seating. More particularly, this invention relates to a base especially adapted for use in supporting seating in stadiums, auditoriums and the like having the seating elevation progressively raised.

In constructing stadiums, auditoriums and the like, seating is usually supported such that as seats are progressively more distant from the focal point, their height relative to the focal point is progressively raised. Thus, the floor of such a structure is progressively raised or stepped. Many types of seating bases are presently in existence for securing seats on such a stepped floor. Essentially, these bases are conventional structures which are not well adapted in such an environment. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a specific base for use in such an environment.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a base which is extremely simple in construction, making it relatively inexpensive to fabricate, yet is sturdy and well adapted to withstand the uses to which it may be subjected.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a base which is well adapted to include an arm or tablet support.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of such a base which offers a minimum of interference during use of the seat and is pleasing in appearance in its environment.

These and other objects of this invention will become obvious to those skilled in the seating art upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the base of this invention, shown mounted in position together with a chair and arm rest (in phantom) supported thereon;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the base shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the base shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the base shown in FIG. 1.

Briefly, this invention relates to a base for seating adapted for anchoring on an upright support, the base comprising a generally U-shaped member including a bight portion and a pair of legs. Means is associated with the bight portion for anchoring it to the upright support. The legs include supporting surfaces for supporting the bottom of a seat.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the entire base comprising this invention. The base 1 includes a generally U-shaped member and a generally L-shaped arm support 25. The U-shaped member 10 is of formed, one-piece construction and includes a bight portion 11 and a pair of legs extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom, each designated by the reference numeral 12, each of the legs 12 terminating with an upper surface 13. Extending outwardly from the rear portion of the upper surface 13 of each leg 12 is an car 14. A supporting bar is mounted to and across the front portions of the upper surface 13 of the legs 12. The ears 14 and the bar 15 form supporting surfaces for a seat 20 (FIG. 1). It will be noted that the planes of the supporting surfaces thus formed are generally perpendicular to the plane of the bight portion 11 of the member 10. The term generally perpendicular is used in the specification and following claims since the exact plane of the supporting surfaces may be made to vary in accordance with the contour of the seat to be mounted on the base. Thus, the supporting surfaces, as shown clearly in FIG. 2, are considered to be generally perpendicular to the plane of the bight portion. A notch 17 is provided in the upper surface 13 of each leg 12, the purpose of which will be more fully explained hereinafter. A mounting member 16 is secured to each of the ears 14 and to the extremities of the bar 15, these mounting members in turn se cured to a seating shell 21). In the embodiment shown, the mounting members 16 are comprised of resilient material adapted to be bonded to the bottom of the seat shell 29.

The arm support 25 is secured to the U-shaped member 10 as follows. One arm 26 extends across the upper surfaces 13 of the legs 12, resting in the notches 17 and secured thereto by suitable means, such as welding. The arm 26 extends laterally from the U-shaped member 10 a distance such that the arm 27 extending upwardly passes alongside of the seat shell 20. A suitable means 28 is provided at the extremity of arm 27 for receiving a tablet 29.

The base 1 is mounted for support as follows. The bight portion 11 of the U-shaped member 10 is positioned against a vertical or riser portion R (FIG. 1). Screws 2 (FIG. 2) extend through the openings 18 in the bight portion 11 extending into threaded inserts 3 in the riser R. When thus mounted, the legs 12 extend outwardly and upwardly from the riser R. With this simple step, the base 1 is mounted firmly in position, supporting a seat shell 20 and a tablet 29 as described.

It will be noted that the base described hereinbefore is exceptionally simple in construction, yet sturdy and essentially maintenance-free. It may be mounted in position in a stadium or auditorium utilizing risers as described, the mounting being extremely simple-as is the removal thereof if necessary.

While only one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it may be possible to practice the invention through the utilization of certain other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Such other embodiments are to be included as part of this invention unless the following claims specifically state otherwise.

I claim:

1. A base for seating adapted for anchoring on an upright support, said base comprising: a one-piece member of generally U-shape in horizontal cross section, said member including a bight portion and a pair of legs extending outwardly and upwardly from said bight portion; means associated with said bight portion for anchoring said bight portion to the upright member; and seat supporting surfaces extending from said legs and lying in planes generally perpendicular to the plane passing through said bight portion.

2. A base as defined in claim 1, said supporting surfaces comprising a pair of ears extending from said legs for supporting the rear of a seat and a bar secured across said legs for supporting the front of a seat.

3. A base for seating adapted for anchoring on an upright support, said base comprising: a one-piece member of generally U-shape in horizontal cross section, said member including a bight portion and a pair of legs extending outwardly and upwardly from said bight portion; means associated with said bight portion for anchoring said bight portion to the upright member; seat supporting surfaces extending from said legs and lying in planes generally perpendicular to the plane passing through said bi ht portion; and an arm support secured to .said legs including a -first arm secured within notches in said Jegs-andlying ina .planegenerally parallel to the planes of said seat supporting surfaces and a second arm extending upwardly from said seat supporting sur- .faces.

4. A base as defined in claim 3, said supporting surfaces comprising a pair of ears extending from said legs for supporting the rear of a seat and a bar secured across said legs for supporting the front of a seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 491,590 Poulson Feb. 14, 1893 936,527 Fisher Oct. 12, 1909 1,495,943 Wiley May 27, 1924 2,165,125 Bargen July 4, 1939 2,568,896 Morgan Sept. 25, 1951 2,669,288 Bargen Feb. 16, 1954 2,698,049 Lamb Dec. 28, 1954 2,921,622 Henriksonet al.. Jan. 119, 19.60 

1. A BASE FOR SEATING ADAPTED FOR ANCHORING ON AN UPRIGHT SUPPORT, SAID BASE COMPRISING: A ONE-PIECE MEMBER OF GENERALLY U-SHAPE IN HORIZONTAL CROSS SECTION, SAID MEMBER INCLUDING A BIGHT PORTION AND A PAIR OF LEGS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY FROM SAID BIGHT PORTION; MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID BIGHT PORTION FOR ANCHORING SAID BIGHT PORTION TO THE UPRIGHT MEMBER; AND SEAT SUPPORTING SURFACES EXTENDING FROM SAID LEGS AND LYING IN PLANES GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE PASSING THROUGH SAID BIGHT PORTION. 